Flooder

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a marine mine and more particularly to a device for use in connection with a submersible body to cause the body to sink to the bed of a body of water at the expiration of a predetermined period of time after the body has been planted in a body of water.

United States Patent [151 3,696,747 Kissinger Oct. 10, 1972 [54] FLOODER [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Lewis E. Kissinger, Washington, UNITED STATES PATENTS D.C. 1,154,272 9/1915 Senger et a1. ..102/10 1 Asslgneer The United States of Amen 558,612 9/1932 Siemens ..102/10 represented by the Secretary of the y Primary Examiner-Samue| W. Engle [22] Filed: 3 1952 Attorney-G. J. Rubens and R. F. Hassfeld [21] Appl. N0.: 297,193 [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a marine mine and more par- U-S. ticularly to a device for use in connection with a sub- [51] Int. CL. .1363 3/00 mersible body to cause the body to sink to the bed of [58] Field of Search ..102/10, 19.2 a body of water at the expiration of a predetermined period of time after the body has been planted in a body of water.

i 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures es s?- F 53 A FLOODER The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Accordingly, the invention provides a new and improved flooder device for a sub-floating marine mine adapted to be moored in a body of sea water and float therein at a depth of 24 to 300 feet below the surface thereof and having means decomposed by electrolysis for unsealing the mine casing and admitting water into the interior thereof to destroy the buoyancy of the mine thereby to cause immediate sinking of the mine to the bed of the body of water. Furthermore, the invention provides a flooder device comprising a negative electrode composed of a zinc disc mounted superjacent a disc composed of steel and a cup-shaped electrode composed of silver and having a quantity of silver chloride therein. The zinc disc of the negative electrode and the positive electrode are exposed to the sea water as the mine is planted therein and thus an electrical current flows between the aforesaid electrodes as the water engages the electrodes which causes electrolytic decomposition of the zinc disc and thereafter decomposition of the steel disc whereupon sea water flows into the interior chamber of the mine thereby flooding the mine casing and causing the mine to sink.

An object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved flooder device for a marine mine having means controlled by electrolytic decomposition for admitting sea water into the interior of the mine to cause the mine to sink to the bed of the body of water when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been planted therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flooder for a marine mine in which disc means subject to electrolysis and decomposed thereby causes the mine to be flooded and to sink to the bed of a body of water, and in which means settable at will to different settings control the rate of electrolytic decomposition of the disc means whereupon the mine sinks at a preselected time after being planted in the water.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a mine casing partially in section illustrating the manner in which the flooder device of the present invention is attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the flooder device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the flooder device; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the numeral generally indicates a subfloating mine comprising a casing 11 having a pair of oppositely disposed openings 12 fonned therein. Arranged within the openings 12 respectively and secured to the casing 11 as at 13 is a pair of supporting members 14, each member comprising an annular wall 15 having an inwardly extending flange 16 formed thereon, each of the members 14 support a flooder device generally indicated by the reference character 17.

The flooder devices 17 are identical in structure and comprise a base 18 composed of suitable insulating material such, for example, as Bakelite". The base 18 is provided with a reduced nipple l9 and a centrally disposed well 20 terminating in a reduced bore or port 21. As more clearly shown on FIG. 4 a positive electrode generally indicated by the reference character 22 is arranged within the well 20 and comprises a cupshaped electrode 23 composed preferably of silver and having a quantity of a depolarizer such as silver chloride 24 fused or pressed therein at a predetermined pressure.

A negative electrode generally indicated by the numeral 25 is arranged within the bore 21 and comprises a relatively thick outer disc 26 composed of zinc and exposed to the sea water when the mine is planted therein and a relatively thin inner disc 27 composed of steel or the like and arranged in abutting engagement with the disc 26. A gasket 28 provides a watertight seal between the aforesaid discs and base 18, the gasket being maintained in sealing engagement therewith by a nut 29 threaded into bore 21 and into abutting engagement with the disc 27, the gasket being compressed sufficiently to provide the aforesaid seal as the nut 29 is threaded into the bore 21 and into engagement with the disc 27. a

A terminal 31 is molded within the base 18 and is provided with a watertight seal 32. One end of the terminal extends beyond the inner surface of the base member as at 33, the other end 34 thereof extending beyond the wall defining the well 20 and arranged within the silver chloride and in engagement with the cup-shaped element 23.

A hood or cover 35 is secured to the base 18 preferably by screws 36, the cover having a plurality of apertures 37 formed therein in communication with the interior of the mine casing and adapted to admit sea water therein when the electrode 25 has been decomposed by electrolysis. The cover is provided with an end wall 38 upon which is impressed a suitable graduated scale 39, the cover being centrally depressed as at 41.

As more clearly shown on FIG. 4 a rheostat 42 is arranged within the cover 35 and secured thereto by a nut 44 threaded on a sleeve 45 formed on the rheostat casing and into abutting engagement with a grommet 46 attached to the bottom wall 47 defining the depression 41, the sleeve 45 extending through a centrally disposed aperture formed in the grommet.

The rheostat 42 is provided with an actuating shaft 48 journaled in the sleeve 45 and having an adjusting knob 49 secured thereto in any suitable manner such, for example, as by being pinned thereto and thus the rheostat may be actuated to different setting about the graduated scale 39 if desired. When the knob 49 has been actuated to the desired setting and the index pointer 51 thereon registers with the mark on the scale 39 corresponding to the desired setting the knob is locked in this position. The locking means for the knob comprising a substantially U-shaped spring clip 52 having a pair of mutually spaced legs 53 and 54, the leg 53 being secured to the cover as by welding the parts together, the leg 54 having a detent 55 formed thereon which is moved into locking engagement with the inclined surface 56 of the knob as the screw 57 is threaded into the opening 58 and the head thereof moves into engagement with the leg 54.

It will be understood, however, that the rheostat is actuated to the desired setting before the flooder device is clamped within the member 14 and prior to the planting thereof in a body of water. The clamping of the flooder within the member 14 is accomplished by an annular nut 59 threaded therein as at 61 and into abutting engagement with a shoulder 62 formed on the base 18 at the junction of the reduced nipple l9 and the enlarged portion 63 of the base.

As shown on FIG. 1 a watertight seal is provided between the member 14 and the flooder 17 by an O gasket 64 disposed within an annular groove 65 formed in the portion 63 and maintained in sealing engagement therewith by the annular nut 59 and thus by this arrangement premature flooding of the mine is prevented when the mine is planted within a body of water.

The rheostat is provided with a pair of terminals 66 and 67, terminal 66 being connected to the positive electrode 22 by way of conductor 68 and terminal 31, terminal 67 being connected to the negative electrode 25 by way of conductor 69, terminal screw 71 and nut 29 which provides an annular conductor.

By the aforesaid arrangement an electrical current flows between the aforesaid electrodes when the mine is planted within a body of sea water and the water engages the zinc negative and silver positive electrodes. It will be understood, however, that the sea water acts as an electrolyte which causes a potential difference of substantially one volt to be developed between the positive and negative electrodes. Furthermore, the setting of the rheostat varies the resistance and thus regulates the amount of current flowing between the electrodes and thus the rate of electrolytic decomposition of the zinc disc 26; which is decomposed completely by electrolysis before the steel disc 27 is affected thereby. Thereafter the steel disc is subjected to electrolytic decomposition, the potential between the remaining steel electrode and the silver electrode being substantially one-half of a volt. When the aforesaid pair of discs have been decomposed by electrolysis in the aforesaid manner sufficient sea water enters the mine casing 11 by way of bore 21 and ports 37 to cause the mine to sink to the bed of the body of water.

It will be understood, that the outer thick disc 26 of the negative electrode 25 is composed of a metal more active in the electromotive series of metals than the inner thin disc 27. By the aforesaid disc arrangement premature puncturing or decomposition of the outer disc will not result in the flooding of the mine casing for the reason that the inner less active disc will not begin to errode and unsealing of the port 21 will not occur until the outer active disc has been completely decomposed by electrolysis.

ln a preferred embodiment the rheostat has 6,000 ohms total resistance and is settable at will to different settings whereby the flooding time of the mine may be varied from one week to one year, if desired. The setting of the rheostat regulates the amount of current flowing between the positive and negative electrodes and the amount of current controls the rate of electrolytic decomposition of the zinc disc.

Furthermore, if desired, changeable fixed resistors may be employed in lieu of the rheostat 42 and the electrodes may be composed of different metals, if desired, provided that the proper relationship in the electromotive series of the metals employed therewith is maintained, such that the outer disc is most active, the inner less active than the outer disc and the positive electrode least active of the group.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a decomposable electrode secured to said casingfor sealing the casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine as the electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, an electrode element secured to said casing and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said electrode, and means connected to said electrode and the electrode element for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said electrode.

2. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a decomposable negative discshaped electrode secured to and insulated from said casing for sealing said casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine as the said negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode including a cupshaped member secured to and insulated from said casing and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said disc-shaped electrode, adjustable means carried by and sealed within said casing and operatively connected to said electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said disc-shaped electrode, and conductor means attached to said adjustable means for operatively connecting the adjustable means to said electrodes.

3. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a pair of discs for sealing said casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of the mine as the discs are decomposed in successive order by electrolysis, means including an element operatively connected to said discs and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said discs, and means settable at will to different settings and operatively connected to said element and the pair of discs for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said discs.

4. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing and for admitting said water into the interior of said mine as the negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode operatively connected to said negative electrode, said electrode being rendered effective by said sea water thereby to cause decomposition of said negative electrode, and means operatively connected to said electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.

5. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing, said electrode being adapted to admitsaid water into the interior of the mine as the electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with the sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode, an electrical circuit including said electrodes through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and a control device settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate of electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.

6. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing and comprising a pair of metal discs, said discs being adapted to admit said water into the interior of the mine as the discs are decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with the sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said discs in successive order, an electrical circuit having said electrodes included therein through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and means settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate or electrolytic decomposition of said discs.

7. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a decomposable discshaped negative electrode secured to and insulated from said housing for sealing said housing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficient to sink said mine when said disc-shaped electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode including a cup-shaped member secured to and insulated from said housing and responsive to said sea water for causing electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode when the mine has been planted in said water and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, adjustable means carried by and sealed within said housing and settable at will to different settings and electrically connected to said negative and positive electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode, and conductor means for electrically connecting said adjustable means to said electrodes.

8. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a negative electrode for sealing said housing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficiently to sink the mine when the negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode operatively connected to said negative electrode, said electrodes being rendered effective by said sea water as the mine is planted therein thereby to cause decomposition of said negative electrode and unsealing of said housing when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and means settable at will to different settings and operatively connected to said negative and positive electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.

9. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in

combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a negative electrode for sealing said housing and comprising a pair of metal discs, said discs being adapted to admit sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficient to sink the mine when the discs are decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with said sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said discs in successive order, an electrical circuit having said electrodes included therein through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and means settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate of electrolytic decompositions of said discs and the sinking of said mine. 

1. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a decomposable electrode secured to said casing for sealing the casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine as the electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, an electrode element secured to said casing and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said electrode, and means connected to said electrode and the electrode element for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said electrode.
 2. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a decomposable negative disc-shaped electrode secured to and insulated from said casing for sealing said casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine as the said negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode including a cup-shaped member secured to and insulated from said casing and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said disc-shaped electrode, adjustable means carried by and sealed within said casing and operatively connected to said electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said disc-shaped electrode, and conductor means attached to said adjustable means for operatively connecting the adjustable means to said electrodes.
 3. A device for flooding a floating marine mine comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a pair of discs for sealing said casing and for admitting sea water into the interior of the mine as the discs are decomposed in successive order by electrolysis, means including an element operatively connected to said discs and rendered effective by said water for causing decomposition of said discs, and means settable at will to different settings and operatively connected to said element and the pair of discs for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said discs.
 4. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing and for admitting said water into the interior of said mine as the negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode operatively connected to said negative electrode, said electrode being rendered effective by said sea water thereby to cause decomposition of said negative electrode, and means operatively connected to said electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.
 5. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing, said electrode being adapted to admit said water into the interior of the mine as the electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with the sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode, an electrical circuit including said electrodes through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and a control device settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate of electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.
 6. A device for flooding a mine with sea water comprising a normally sealed casing secured to said mine, a negative electrode for sealing said casing and comprising a pair of metal discs, said discs being adapted to admit said water into the interior of the mine as the discs are decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with the sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said discs in successive order, an electrical circuit having said electrodes included therein through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and means settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate or electrolytic decomposition of said discs.
 7. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a decomposable disc-shaped negative electrode secured to and insulated from said housing for sealing said housing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficiEnt to sink said mine when said disc-shaped electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode including a cup-shaped member secured to and insulated from said housing and responsive to said sea water for causing electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode when the mine has been planted in said water and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, adjustable means carried by and sealed within said housing and settable at will to different settings and electrically connected to said negative and positive electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode, and conductor means for electrically connecting said adjustable means to said electrodes.
 8. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a negative electrode for sealing said housing and for admitting sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficiently to sink the mine when the negative electrode is decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode operatively connected to said negative electrode, said electrodes being rendered effective by said sea water as the mine is planted therein thereby to cause decomposition of said negative electrode and unsealing of said housing when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and means settable at will to different settings and operatively connected to said negative and positive electrodes for controlling the electrolytic decomposition of said negative electrode.
 9. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a mine casing, a normally sealed housing secured to said mine casing, a negative electrode for sealing said housing and comprising a pair of metal discs, said discs being adapted to admit sea water into the interior of said mine casing sufficient to sink the mine when the discs are decomposed by electrolysis, a positive electrode, said electrodes being adapted to develop a differential voltage in response to contact thereof with said sea water thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of said discs in successive order, an electrical circuit having said electrodes included therein through which the current flows as said electrodes are rendered effective by the sea water, and means settable at will to different settings and included within said circuit for regulating the amount of current flowing between the electrodes thereby to control the rate of electrolytic decompositions of said discs and the sinking of said mine. 